Spring opener for pilot parachutes



March 19, 1929. J J, COUGHLIN 1,705,854-

SPRING OPENER FOR PILOT PARACHUTES Filed July 23, 1928 IN V EN TOR.

John, JCZJugh/[lln/ I A TTORNEYS.

Patented Mar. 19, 1929.

A UNITED STATES JOHN .1. COUGHLIN,

PATENT OFFICE.

or DAYTON, onIo,.AssIeNon To FOLLMER, GLOGG & 00., on NEW I YORK, \N. .Y., A CORPORATION or NEW YORK.

SPRING OPENER FOR, PILOT PARAorIuTEs.

Application med Iu1y 23,

Pilot parachutes that are automatically opened by springing instrumentalities, should have their centre of gravity well below the sail. My present device is intended to position the heavier parts of the parachute frame permanently below the s il and to Secure other advantages that will hppear from a perusal of the'detailed portion of the specification. The device is simple, strongand not likely to get out of order or to fail to operate.

Fig. 1 is an elevation of the device. Fig. 2 is a bottom view of the spring assemblage that opens the parachute when released. Fig. 3 is an elevation of a portion of the retainer for the springs. Figs. 4.111s 5 are views of parts of the retainer.

The arms, 1,spread apart when released. They have suitable means for attaching the sail to the arms, 1, suchas the caps, 2 with eyes, 12. They are attached to and are operated by the springing instrumentalities,

and, in practice, one set of arms is integral with a spring, 6, and another with'the spring, 8. In practice, these springs are positioned at right angles to each other, the spring, 6, being contained within the spring, 8

The arms, 1,1, 1, 1, are spaced from each other and the direction of their outwardly springing movements of the-ends carrying the cap, 2, is regulated by the retainer that has a strong tying element such as the portion of cylinder, 4, placed preferably centrally within the coils of the springs, 6, and 8. To the tyingelement is securely attached spacers that prevent the coil springs fromturning. These project side-wise from the central tying element, and lie at the sides of the coils, 6, and 8. These, spacers are very preferably the loops, 5, and 3, which prevent the turning of the arms in any undesirable direction while leaving their desirable springing action entirely free. They also can act as a stop to control the width of the spread of the arms, 1, 1. These loop elements enclose the sides of the springs, 6, and 8, and limit their rotation so that -the arms, 1 1, 1, 1,- will be kept rope'rly spaced from each other. .They also ee the arms from going downward, keeping t euppenends of the 1928. Serial No. 294,698.

arms, 1, 1, 1, 1, always at substantially the same level. a

The detailed construction of this retainer whichI prefer is as follows :The.loops, 5, 5, are soldered to the ends of cylinder, 4. AS their ends have a lon bearing on the face of the cylinder this ma es the connection very strong. The cylinders have the apertures, 9, 9, through which pass the sidewalls of the loop, 3. In practice, I may assemble these last parts by passing the loop 3, with the part, 13, not yet bent into its iinal position, through the apertures, 9, 9, and then bending over the part, 13, and soldering it fast at 10.

The part, 3, may be soldered to the cylinder 7 I l j While my devlce 1s a simple one, it can be seen that changes in detail may be made with- I out departing from my invention.

I claim 1. In aspring opener for pilot parachutes, a plurality of coil springs set one within the other and at angles with each' other, in combination with upwardly projecting arms connected to and moved by said springs, and a centrally located retainer for said springs, having a tying element located within the coil springs, and looping elements secured to said tying. element, each enclosing a side of the coil springs.

2. The device as wherein the tying element is a cylinder to which the looping elements are secured. I

.80 4 described in claim 1, 1-

3. The device as describedv in.claim '1,

wherein one of the looping elements is passed through apertures in the tying element and secured thereto.

4. In a spring opener for pilot parachutes, 

